Peter Thangaraj dead

He fell ill yesterday morning and was admitted to the Bokaro General Hospital where he breathed his last at around 11.30 pm. He is survived by his wife, one son and three daughters.

Voted Asia’s best goalkeeper in 1958, Thangaraj played for the country between 1954 and 1968, playing in four Asiads in 1954, 1958, 1962 and 1966. The six feet tall goalkeeper was greatly influenced by the Russian legend Lev Yashin. He represented the country in 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics and was picked up for the Asian All Star team twice. He was presented with the Arjuna award in 1968.

“I will miss him. He was a very good friend. A great goalkeeper and a greater human being, Thangaraj’s strength was his towering personality under the bar. He was almost unbeatable in aerial balls for his long reach. He was a great team man and always helped others,” said Chuni Goswami.

Badru Banerjee, who led the Indian football team in 1956 Olympics, mourned his death saying: “He was a part of that golden generation. The most significant aspect of his game was his long throws and huge goalkeeper’s volleys. In fact, our counter attacks used to start from him. He was also good at playing pranks with his team-mates.”

Another contemporary, Shanto Mitra said: “He is the best the country has ever produced. I played for seven years with him in East Bengal. He has always been a role model, both on and off the field. The All India Football Federation must do something in his memory.”

Born in 1936 in Andhra Pradesh, Thangaraj initially played as a centre forward for the Madras Regimental Centre, but took to goalkeeping subsequently with great success.

He played for Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting through the 1960s becoming the heart-throb of the soccer-mad crowd of the city.

After calling it a day from the Maidan, Thangaraj worked as a coach of the Aligarh Muslim University for some time and also of Vasco Sports Club in the early 1970s.

He subsequently joined as sports officer in the Bokaro Steel Plant. Thangaraj was appointed as an advisor to the football academy set up by the Bokaro Steel Plant.